On Sept. 30, Ralph Steinman, discoverer of the dendritic cell, passed away from pancreatic cancer just three days before it was announced he would share this year’s Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine with Bruce Beutler and Jules Hoffmann.
Nobel prizes are usually not awarded posthumously, so there was a moment of doubt following the discovery of Steinman’s death. Thankfully, the Nobel Committee made an exception since the members were not yet aware of Steinman’s death when they made their announcement.
Not honoring Steinman’s work, which opened the door for treatments of infection and cancer, would be a severe oversight. Over the years, the Nobel policy against posthumous awards has prevented many deserving individuals from receiving the world’s most prestigious award as their final legacy.
Science has undergone many changes in the 110 years since the first Nobel Prizes were awarded. The pace of scientific discovery has increased as thousands of scientists explore different problems simultaneously. Science has also become increasingly collaborative as teams of scientists combine their efforts locally and internationally.
Regrettably, the Nobel system is rooted in the past, allowing no more than three recipients for each prize. Over the years, fewer and fewer prizes have been awarded to a single individual, and during the 20th century the average number of recipients per award has increased dramatically.
Fortunately, the Nobel Committee has allowed itself some flexibility over its original criteria, particularly in its interpretation of Alfred Nobel’s wish that the awards honor the greatest achievement in their field over “the previous history.” Gandhi was nominated for the prize five different times, and upon his death in 1948 the Nobel Committee declined to award a Peace Prize saying, “there was no suitable living